Improvement in machines for making netted or lace fabrics



UNTTED STATES PATENT EEICE.

HERMAN A. OESTERLE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR MAKING NETTED 0R LACE FABRICS.

I Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 51,744, dated December 2G, 1865.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HERMAN A. OEsTERLE, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented a Machine lor Making Netted or Lace Fabrics; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon. j

My invention consists ofcertaiu mechanism, fully described hereinafter, for producing netted or lace fabrics-sach, for instance, as the sashes worn by army ofticers.

In order to enable others skilled iu the art to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation.

On reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure l is a sectional elevation of my improved machine for making netted or lace fabrics; Fig. 2, a plan view, and Fig. 3 a diagram illustrating one style of fabric produced by the machine.

Similarletter's refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A A' are opposite side beams of the machine, each of the said beams being secured to the uprights B, B, and B2.

To pins projecting from the beams A is hung a frame, G, which consists of two arms, D and D', and a curved cross-pieee, E, at the under side of which are a number of recesses, a.,and in the rear of the cross-piece are hung a series of levers, F, each ot' which has an inclined or rounded end and an abrupt shoulder, ar, a portion of the face of the cross-pieces being removed to allow each of the shoulders x to project a short distance into the recess a underthe circumstances described hereinafter. A flat spring, b, bears against and tends to force the upper end of each lever F outward.

Between the uprights B extends a curved cross-piece, F', in which are recesses a', similar to those in the cross-piece E, and in the rear of this cross-piece are hung a number of levers, F', with inclined upper ends and abrupt shoulders x', a spring, b', bearing againstand tending to force outward the lower ends of each ot' said levers.

In suitable brackets attached to the outer ends of the side beams, A A', slides a bar, G, near the edge of which are a series of open- `\ings, ce, for a purpose described hereinafter.

To the side piece A is secured a bracket, H, to which is hung a horizontal lever, I, having at its end a wooden rod or beater, J, and to a bracket, H', secured to the opposite side beam, A', is hung a lever, I', to which is secured a beater, J', the latter being somewhat lower than the beater J. l

Between the side pieces A turns a drum, K, in front of and below which revolves a roller, L, an intermittent rotary motion in the direction of the arrow being imparted to the drum by mechanism similar to the take-up motions of ordinary looms. I

Between the side beams A and A', near th rear end ofthe same, is hung a vertical frame,

M, which consists of the side pieces N and N' and the upper and lower cross-pieces, o and o'.

P P P P are shuttles, in each ofwhich is hung a bobbin, d, the latter being prevented fromturning too freely by the pressure of a spring, e. From the front edge of each shuttle project two arms, Q and Q', the ends of the former being adapted to the recesses (t in the cross-piece E, and the latter to the recesses a' in the cross-piece E', and on the front edge of each arm Q is a projection, c', with an inclined edge and an abrupt shoulder, there being a similar projection, t', on each ot' the arms Q. The arms Q' of each of the shuttles P is inserted into one of the recesses a?, where it is retained by the shoulders x of the lever F catching the shoulder of the projection t'. rlhe thread X from the bobbin d is then passed through an opening in the lower edge of the shuttle around the drinn K, the roller L, and thence to any suitable take-up roller. Threads Y are also conducted from bobbins arranged in suitable frames at the rear of the machine through the openings c in the bar Gr to the drum K, and round the latter and the roller'L in the same direction as the threads X. The ditt'ereut parts are then brought to the position shown in Fig. l, when the operation of the machine will be as follows: Motion being imparted to the different parts by the mechanism illustrated, or the equivalent to the same, the frame U iirst descends until the cross-pieceE is broughtdireetly labove the shuttles P, the arms Q' of which now occupy a position in the recesses a', while the shoulders of the levers F' catch those of the projections i' on the shuttles. The lower end of the fraine M now moves forward by the means hereinafterstated until the cross-piece O' is brought against the lower-ends of the lever F', the upper ends of the latter being thus released from contact with the shuttles P, when the frame C is elevated, carrying with it the shuttles, which on the downward motion of the frame were seized by the levers F, and each of which conveys a thread, X, between the threads Y. The bar G then moves such a distance in the direction of the arrow 1, Fig. 2, that each thread Y is carried over two of the recesses a', or, in other words, over two threads, when the frame C is again depressed, the shuttles and their threads X descending between the threads Y through the second space to the left of that through which they had been elevated, the arms Q' passing into the recesses a' and being retained in the same by the levers F'. The upper end of frame M then swings forward, so that the cross-piece O is brought against the.1ipper ends ofthe levers F, which are thus released from contact with the shuttles, andthe frame C is then elevated without the shuttles while the beater J is carried between the threads X and Y at right angles to the same, so as to beat up the loop just formed, while at the same time a slight motion in the direction of the arrow is imparted to the drum K, so as to take up a portion ot the fabric. The bar G now moves in the dirrction of the arrow 2, Fig. 2, such a distance as to carry each ot' the threads Y over two ofthe shuttles P. The beater J' then moves to the position scends, catches the shuttles P, and rises as lbefore, after which the beater J is brought to the position shown in Fig. 2, so as to beat up the last-formed loop. As these operations are continued each ofthe threads X is carried round two of the threads Y, tirst over and then under the same, each stitch is beaten up as soon as made, and a netted or lace fabric of the character shown in Fig. 3is thus produced.

The pattern of the fabric may be readily changed by imparting a different motion from thatdescribed to the barG. Forinstance,the threads Y may be carried alternatelyover one and then over two ot' the threads X. The mannerot'makingthese'changesand theiretiect will be so readily understood by those conversant with the art as to need no particular description.

to the frame M from the shalt 2 through the medium ot' the cam 3 and connecting-rod 4, the shafts 2 and 5 being geared together by the The desired rocking motion is imparted cog-wheels 6 and 7, Fig. 2. The necessary movement is imparted to the beaters J and J' from the shaft 2 through cams 7,levers 8, sliding rods 9, and connecting-rods 10. The takeup roller K is actuated by the cam 11 on 'the shaft 5 through the aid of the lever 12, spring 13, connecting-rod 14, lever 15, spring-pawl 16, and the ratchet-wheel on the shaft of the take-up roller, and the frame Dis Vibrated by cranks 17 on the shaft 5 and connecting-rods The bar G may be actuated by any suitable devices which will readily suggest themselves to those experienced in this class of machinery.

Without confining myself, however, to the precise mechanism herein described for imparting the. desired motion to the several moving parts,

I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. The shuttles P, each carrying a spool ot' thread, X, in combination with the devices herein described, or t-he equivalents to the same,t'or retaining and releasing the said shuttles on one side ot' the system ot threads Y, and with the devices described, or their equivalents for seizing the said shuttles, conveying them between the threads Y, and releasing the same, allsubstantiallyin the manner described.

2. The vibrating or reciprocating cross-bar E, its recesses a and spring-catch levers F, in combination with the arms Q on the shuttles, and the projection t', and the bar Oot'therocking frame M.

3. The stationary cross-bar E', its recesses a', and spring catch-levers F', in combination with the arms Q' ofthe shuttles, and the projection t', and the bar O ot' the rocking frame M.

4. One or more reciprocatingor sliding bars, G, or their equivalents, for guiding and laterally moving the thrcadsY,in combination with the shuttles P, to which the Yabove-described movements are imparted.

5. Thabeaters J and J', arranged to operate on the threads and the loops of the same, substantially in the manner described, for the purpose specitied.

In testimony whereofI have signed myname to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

H. A. OESTERLE.

Witnesses:

HENRY HowsoN, JOHN WHITE. 

